Σωσθένης (Sōsthenēs)
Sōsthenēs
Sosthenes
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Sōsthenēs means "savior of his nation" or "savior of the people." It appears only twice in the New Testament, identifying two different men who share this common Greek name. In Acts 18:7, he is described as a Jewish ruler of the synagogue in Corinth, a neighbor to Paul who offered him hospitality after Paul left the synagogue due to opposition.
The second mention occurs in 1 Corinthians 1:1, where the author identifies himself as "Sosthenes our brother." This individual is likely a Christian associate of Paul who co-sends the letter to the church in Corinth. While the first Sosthenes was a synagogue official, this second figure is presented as a fellow worker in the gospel, illustrating how names once associated with Jewish leadership could be borne by early Christian leaders.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Sōsthenēs means "savior of the people," yet the New Testament presents two very different men with this title. In Acts 18:17, a synagogue ruler named Sosthenes suffers violence before the judgment seat while the Roman proconsul Gallio remains indifferent to the conflict. This moment highlights the vulnerability of early believers and leaders who faced opposition without immediate earthly protection.
Later, in 1 Corinthians 1:1, another Sosthenes appears as "our brother" alongside the apostle Paul. This shift from a hostile synagogue official to a fellow worker in the gospel shows how God can transform relationships and roles within the community of faith. It reminds us that our identity is not fixed by past conflicts or social positions but is reshaped through our connection with Christ and one another.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sosthenes2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Σωσθένης1×
- Σωσθένην1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 18:17
Then all the Greeks seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn’t care about any of these things.
This verse captures a moment of chaos where Sosthenes, the synagogue ruler, is beaten while Gallio ignores the situation, illustrating the unpredictable dangers faced by early church figures.
-
I Corinthians 1:1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
Here Sosthenes is identified as a brother in Christ and co-sender of the letter, showing his integration into Paul's inner circle of ministry partners.